Passive shock-absorbing system for a sighting apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed is a passive shock-absorbing system for a sighting apparatus installed on a device including equipment generating the shocks, the system including two rigid plates substantially parallel to one another, via a first plate secured to the part of the device including the equipment and a second plate secured to the sighting apparatus, the plates being connected to one another by a position return component returning the plates to a determined relative rest position after absorbing a shock. The system is characterized in that the position return component includes a line-point-plane positioning unit with balls between the two plates and a set of elastic return members connecting the two plates to one another. A corresponding device is also disclosed.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A passive shock-absorbing system for a sighting apparatus installed on a device comprising equipment generating said shocks, the system comprising two rigid plates substantially parallel to each other, including a first plate secured to the part of the device that comprises the equipment and a second plate secured to the sighting apparatus, the plates being connected to each other by a position return means for returning the plates to a determined relative rest position after absorbing a shock, wherein the position return means comprises a line-point-plane positioning means with balls between the two plates and a set of elastic return members connecting the two plates to each other. 
     
     
       2. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the line-point-plane positioning means comprises three balls placed between the two plates and secured to a first of the two plates, a first ball being able to move on a moving plane of the second of the two plates, a second ball being able to move in a hollow cone or trihedron of the second of the two plates and a third ball being able to move in a hollow V or V-shaped groove of the second of the two plates. 
     
     
       3. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic return members are chosen among metal springs and elastomeric material blocks or combinations of metal springs and elastomeric material blocks. 
     
     
       4. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the set of elastic return members is consisted of transverse elastic members arranged perpendicular to the planes of the plates, between the two plates, each transverse elastic member having two ends, a first of the two ends being fastened to a first of the two plates and the second of the two ends being fastened to the second of the two plates. 
     
     
       5. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein each plate comprises at least one bearing surface perpendicular to the plane of the plate, and wherein at least part of the set of elastic return members is consisted of longitudinal elastic members, each longitudinal elastic member being arranged parallel to the planes of the plates, between two bearing surfaces of the two plates, each longitudinal elastic member having two ends, a first of the two ends being fastened to a bearing surface of a first of the two plates and the second of the two ends being fastened to a bearing surface of the second of the two plates. 
     
     
       6. The system according to  claim 5 , wherein at least two longitudinal elastic members are arranged perpendicular to each other. 
     
     
       7. A device comprising equipment generating shocks and a sighting apparatus, said device comprising a passive shock-absorbing system, for the sighting apparatus, that is according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       8. The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the equipment generating the shocks produces, during the shocks, movements of the device that have a determined predominant direction, and wherein the plates are positioned substantially parallel to said determined predominant direction. 
     
     
       9. The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the equipment generating the shocks is adjustable and produces, during the shocks, movements of the device that have variable determined predominant directions according to the equipment adjustment, said variable determined predominant directions making it possible to define a mean direction and wherein the plates are positioned substantially parallel to the mean direction. 
     
     
       10. The device according to  claim 8 , wherein the main direction of the hollow V or V-shaped groove is parallel to the determined predominant direction. 
     
     
       11. The device according to  claim 8 , wherein the system comprises longitudinal elastic members and that at least one of the longitudinal elastic members is parallel to the determined predominant direction. 
     
     
       12. The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the elastic return members are chosen among metal springs and elastomeric material blocks or combinations of metal springs and elastomeric material blocks. 
     
     
       13. The system according to  claim 2 , wherein at least part of the set of elastic return members is consisted of transverse elastic members arranged perpendicular to the planes of the plates, between the two plates, each transverse elastic member having two ends, a first of the two ends being fastened to a first of the two plates and the second of the two ends being fastened to the second of the two plates. 
     
     
       14. The system according to  claim 2 , wherein each plate comprises at least one bearing surface perpendicular to the plane of the plate, and wherein at least part of the set of elastic return members is consisted of longitudinal elastic members, each longitudinal elastic member being arranged parallel to the planes of the plates, between two bearing surfaces of the two plates, each longitudinal elastic member having two ends, a first of the two ends being fastened to a bearing surface of a first of the two plates and the second of the two ends being fastened to a bearing surface of the second of the two plates. 
     
     
       15. The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the main direction of the hollow V or V-shaped groove is parallel to the mean direction. 
     
     
       16. The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the system comprises longitudinal elastic members and that at least one of the longitudinal elastic members is parallel to the mean direction. 
     
     
       17. The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the system comprises longitudinal elastic members and that at least one of the longitudinal elastic members is parallel to the determined predominant direction. 
     
     
       18. The device according to  claim 15 , wherein the system comprises longitudinal elastic members and that at least one of the longitudinal elastic members is parallel to the mean direction. 
     
     
       19. The system according to  claim 3 , wherein at least part of the set of elastic return members is consisted of transverse elastic members arranged perpendicular to the planes of the plates, between the two plates, each transverse elastic member having two ends, a first of the two ends being fastened to a first of the two plates and the second of the two ends being fastened to the second of the two plates. 
     
     
       20. The system according to  claim 3 , wherein each plate comprises at least one bearing surface perpendicular to the plane of the plate, and wherein at least part of the set of elastic return members is consisted of longitudinal elastic members, each longitudinal elastic member being arranged parallel to the planes of the plates, between two bearing surfaces of the two plates, each longitudinal elastic member having two ends, a first of the two ends being fastened to a bearing surface of a first of the two plates and the second of the two ends being fastened to a bearing surface of the second of the two plates.